HoP 452 - Better Than Nothing - Metaphysics in the Second Scholastic
History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
Deep Dive
What is the central focus of Francisco Suárez's metaphysics?
Suárez's metaphysics focuses on the study of being, including both real beings and 'beings of reason'—mental constructs that don't exist in reality but are conceived in relation to genuine being.
How does Suárez define 'beings of reason'?
Suárez defines 'beings of reason' as mental constructs that are thought as being but have no entity in themselves, such as the concept of a flying giraffe or the absence of a giraffe at the zoo.
What is the significance of Suárez's concept of 'objective reality'?
Suárez's concept of 'objective reality' refers to entities that exist only as objects of the mind, such as absences or impossibilities, which have a form of reality that is mental rather than physical.
How does Suárez's view on causation differ from Aristotle's?
While Suárez acknowledges Aristotle's four causes (efficient, material, formal, and final), he emphasizes that efficient causes are the most proper, with the others being causes only by analogy or metaphor.
Why does Suárez include 'beings of reason' in his metaphysics?
Suárez includes 'beings of reason' to clarify their relationship to genuine being and to account for their apparent causal powers, such as how the absence of a giraffe can cause disappointment.
What is Suárez's stance on the relationship between divine and created being?
Suárez argues that there is a single concept of being that applies to both God and created beings, though he criticizes Thomists for emphasizing too much the gulf between divine and created being.
How does Suárez explain God's knowledge of beings before creation?
Suárez explains that God knows all essential truths about beings before they exist, including what they could be and what they cannot be, such as the impossibility of flying giraffes.
What is the role of final causes in Suárez's metaphysics?
Final causes, according to Suárez, are goals or purposes that can influence actions even if they don't exist or remain inert, such as the goal of seeing giraffes at the zoo.
How does Suárez's metaphysics reflect the influence of Pedro da Fonseca?
Suárez follows Fonseca in assuming a general concept of being that covers everything that exists, including God, and in discussing 'beings of reason' to clarify their relationship to genuine being.
What is the significance of Suárez's criticism of the Thomists?
Suárez criticizes the Thomists for overemphasizing the gulf between divine and created being, arguing that a single concept of being should apply to both, emphasizing their shared existence.
- Metaphysics studies everything, including things that don't exist.
- Unrealized possibilities are significant for those who exist.
- Metaphysicians also consider impossible things.
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